ALTERATION works to the Pyramid Arts Centre are set to take place – with the award of a contract approved.

At its meeting on Monday, the council’s cabinet approved the award of a contract for the appointment of a contractor to undertake all the construction works for the project, which forms part of Warrington’s Town Deal programme.

According to a report to cabinet, in autumn 2020 the council received confirmation from the Government that it was to receive a total of £22.1 million from the Towns Fund, including, but not limited to funding for the Pyramid project.

It states that expenditure on the Towns Fund ‘has to be completed’ by March 31, 2026.

Planning and listed building consents have been granted.

The works are set to commence in August this year, and be completed in July 2025.

The report said: “The contract will be subject to the normal risks associated with a construction project.

“In particular this is a refurbishment of an old building and so carries a higher than normal risk of additional expenditure and therefore the request for a delegated variation for the contract sum.

“The contract is subject to the council’s contract regulations and will be project managed accordingly.

“The project is covered by the Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulations. The role of the principal designer is part of the multi-disciplinary design team. The successful contractor will be appointed as the principal contractor. The works are notifiable to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

“A risk register has been compiled for the project and will be updated on a regular basis.”

The cabinet approved the award of the contract for the construction works up to the amount stated in the Part Two report – which is not public – as required to ‘transform the Pyramid centre into an accessible, holistic, modern and flexible space for creative development and growth’ to ‘tenderer A’, as named in the Part Two report.